Pro/Am Competitive Goals

[Spookisgirl]

I know there are a lot of threads that talk about goals for specific comps as well as personal goals, but I haven't been able to find something specific to this question. I am wondering if anyone has any advice or ideas or knowledge for overall competitive goals in pro/am.

For example, in the am/am world (at least in the area I am in), there are closed provincial/state championships that choose competitors for national championships, that choose for world's. There are World Championships in the am/am world of dance.

I know that pro/am has been developing and perhaps my question is just ahead of the times, but as a pro/am competitor there doesn't seem to be a goal like 'be a national champion' because there are no pro/am national championships.

I know in the US there is the US National Dancesport Comp (and that they do allow Canadians to compete in the 'closed' competitions), but it's only recently that I have seen interest in this competition and even being the 'National' Pro/am Comp the entries still seem to be small, comparatively.

I also know that OSB tends to be a comp that people use as a 'yardstick' in the pro/am world, and I think Emerald is also up and coming--but they are still not the same as the championship titles that can be earned in the Am/Am world.

Are titles something that only dancers with partners can earn?

Is there anything comparable in the pro/am competitive world?

I am not talking about the 'Dancersport Series' type awards where you accumulate points based on how much you dance at various comps.

 

[debmc]

Yes, you can win USDC in bronze, silver or gold which is considered a US National Pro Am championship. You can win Embassy in bronze, silver or gold which is a World Pro Am championship. To my knowledge those are the two competitions that officially give national and world titles to their ProAm students. In addition, doing well in comps like Emerald, Millennium, Ohio and Holiday are also good yardsticks of success as they are all big competitions.

 

[rels77]

USDC is nationals. win a title in all levels. You can be the US Open Champion. That's a big deal. the other one is Ohio - sure, it's not a "national" title, but anyone who knows anything about the sport knows it's the big one.

 

[Spookisgirl]

Thank you for your response. I guess what I am asking is whether there are any pro/am championships where you have to 'earn' your way into them (for example placing in the top 2 for your state/province, or nationals to compete in higher level comps).

I am not trying to downplay the importance of comps like USDC or OSB or Emerald, just wondering if there are similar options in the pro/am world as the am/am and pro/pro world, or any movements to bring them about? My understanding is that anyone can enter USDC or Embassy, there are no qualifiers.

 

[JudeMorrigan]

Just as a point of interest, here in the States the pro-pro national championships and NDCA am-am championships are completely open events. Only USA Dance nationals has qualifiers, and there's been a fair bit of discussion lately about whether or not its qualification requirements are actually a good thing.

 

[FancyFeet]

I know that pro/am has been developing and perhaps my question is just ahead of the times, but as a pro/am competitor there doesn't seem to be a goal like 'be a national champion' because there are no pro/am national championships.

There will be. Next year - 2017 - there will be a nationals run for Pro-Am in Canada. I hear it will be held in Gatineau, QC at Casino Lac Leamy at the end of August.

Start planning.

 

[Spookisgirl]

That is good to hear about nationals in Canada. I hope it rotates provinces like the nationals for am/am does as well. Thanks for the information!